Instant analysis from Ravens’ 36-35 comeback win over Chiefs

Here’s what the Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 36-35 comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night in the home opener at M&T Bank Stadium:

Jonas Shaffer, reporter: The Ravens won a game against the Super Bowl favorites despite Lamar Jackson throwing two interceptions, despite an ever-growing injury list, despite a forgettable night of tackling. A win in September’s only as good as the momentum it can create for the next week, but this is a win John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will cherish. If the team can get healthy, watch out.

Childs Walker, reporter: The Ravens gave their most stirring effort of the Lamar Jackson era in beating the team almost no one thought they could beat. You can’t start in a hole against Kansas City’s devastating scoring machine, and the Ravens did just that when Jackson threw an early pick-six (wide receiver Sammy Watkins slipped) after he overshot Marquise “Hollywood” Brown on a potential touchdown pass.

From there, the Chiefs played incredibly efficient offense against an undermanned Ravens secondary that lost starting safety DeShon Elliott to a concussion late in the second quarter. But give the Ravens and Jackson credit for answering again and again. They put their own stamp on the game with a creative rushing attack that rolled up more than 200 yards, and Jackson improved his decision making and accuracy after a shaky first quarter.

The offensive line, with Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle, played vastly better than it did in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Coach John Harbaugh showed his confidence in the unit when he went for it on fourth-and-1 to clinch the game in the last minute. The Ravens still face a difficult road ahead with an injury-depleted roster, but they no longer have to wonder if they can beat the Chiefs. That’s something pretty big.

Ryan McFadden, reporter: Maybe it was the energy from a full-capacity M&T Bank Stadium crowd or Flo Rida taking fans back to 2007 with his halftime performance, but the Ravens played with a certain spark that pushed them to victory. Lamar Jackson didn’t let a rough first half faze him and was able to make some big throws down the stretch.

Jackson was only pressured 22.2% of his drop-backs compared with 54.5% against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, which is a positive sign for a depleted offensive line. Rookie Odefe Oweh might have put the entire football world on notice with his clutch performance, pressuring Patrick Mahomes into throwing an interception and forcing the last-minute fumble that sealed the victory.